CARLY CALLAHAN, MEZZO - SOPRANO

"If ever an actress was born to play the desperate, egotistical Opera House diva Carlotta, it is Carly Callahan. She is every inch the Carlotta that Rosemary Ashe was in the original London West End production of "The Phantom of the Opera" and she far surpasses the tantalizing performance of Judy Kaye in the original Broadway production of the same musical. Here, she dazzles, cajoles, taunts and surprises as a woman so desperate for attention and star power, she will do anything to see her name up in lights. But she does it so cunningly, you can't help but applaud and enjoy her dastardly deeds even when it's "lights out" for Carlotta in the middle of Act II."

- From the Desk of Jim R. - Jim Ruocco

"Carly Callahan nearly steals the show with her appropriately scenery-chewing antics and her driving rendition of 'This Place Is Mine'."

"The tremendously gifted Carly Callahan, last seen as the wicked, egomaniacal diva Carlotta in Downtown Cabaret Theatre’s thrilling production of “Phantom,” delivers yet another exciting, smartly executed performance. Here, she plays Bellomy, the mother of Luisa, who with the help of Matt’s mother Hucklebee, tricks the boy and girl into falling in love by pretending there’s a feud between the neighboring families. It’s a role the actress crafts with apt emotion, urgency, light comic relief and marvelous melodiousness. She also keeps the character firmly rooted in the period from whence it came without any form of modernism. And when asked to sing alongside her “Fantasticks” co-stars in such infectious comic ditties such as “It Depends On What You Pay,” “This Plum is Too Ripe” and “Plant a Radish,” Callahan’s grasp of the material is genuine, melodic and flavorful. It is practiced and ferocious. Her vocal diction is impeccable. And she can create an impression of great power in the most natural of ways."

From the Desk of Jim R, Take 2, Column 66, A Review: “The Fantasticks”

"Though the parents were originally written as fathers, other productions have used mothers, and even a mother and a father, in the roles. Carly Callahan, as Luisa’s mother, Bellomy, makes one almost forget the traditional casting. Costumed in 1950s garb, her timing, tenderness, and energy (she understands that a comic character is funniest when she means every word) render Bellomy enormously sympathetic."

Shoreline Times, Brooks Applebaum March 26, 2018

"The Ivoryton production has ingeniously assigned the parental roles to Patricia Schuman and Carly Callahan as two meddling mothers. Both Ms. Schuman and Ms. Callahan have gorgeous voices, which are perfectly suited to the deliciously versatile score. They play the mothers with outrageous cattiness and comical indignance when the roles call for next-door neighbor conflict."